- Type
- Castle
- Origins
- 1537 · 16th century per Wikidata: founding, first mention or construction
- Location
- Södermanland, Sweden
- Style
- Renaissance
- Architect
- Erik Palmstedt, Henrik von Cöllen
- Coordinates
- 59.2561°, 17.2192°
History
As early as the 14th century the magnate Bo Jonsson Grip had a castle here, which gave the place its name. In 1537 King Gustav Vasa began building a massive brick fortress with round towers on the site, reusing material from the dissolved Carthusian monastery in Mariefred. In 1563–1567 Eric XIV held his brother John and John's wife Catherine Jagiellon prisoner here; their son Sigismund, later King of Poland, was born in captivity in 1566. After Eric's fall it was his turn to be held in the castle. In 1781 Gustav III fitted out a court theatre in one of the towers, and since 1822 the castle has housed the State Portrait Collection.
What to see
The castle stands on a small promontory on Lake Mälaren, a few minutes' walk from the lanes of Mariefred. Inside are Renaissance rooms from the Vasa era with wooden panelling and painted ceilings, and one of the best-preserved 18th-century court theatres in Europe. Hundreds of portraits line the walls, from Gustav Vasa to modern Swedes. In summer a vintage steamer sails here from Stockholm.
Wikipedia article Official website Wikidata Q714783
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